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Reclining Figure
Not on view
Unearthed in an ancient refuse heap, this is the most imposing of the sculptures recovered at Jenne-jeno. The absence of its head perhaps resulted from an act of deliberate disfigurement prior to the work’s disposal. The androgynous figure’s elite status is reflected in its corpulent physique and elaborate accessories, while its reclining posture is alternately suggestive of consultation or leisure. This work may have been intended to assert indigenous beliefs at a time of social or political stress in Jenne-jeno.
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